The University of Guelph (often called U of G) is a large public university in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. It's known for its strong focus on research. The university started in 1964 by bringing together three older colleges: the Ontario Agricultural College (from 1874), the MacDonald Institute (from 1903), and the Ontario Veterinary College (from 1922).

Today, the University of Guelph has almost 30,000 students. It offers many different programs, including 94 bachelor's degrees and 48 master's and PhD programs. Its veterinary medicine program is ranked number one in Canada and among the top ten worldwide. The university is also highly rated for its agricultural science programs. Students often give the university top marks for satisfaction.

The university's experts hold 23 Canada Research Chair positions. They work on important research in science, engineering, health, and social sciences. Some cool achievements include finding the first scientific proof of water on Mars and helping with the Barcode of Life project, which helps identify different species.

University of Guelph: A Look Back in Time

The University of Guelph's story began when the Ontario government bought a large farm in 1874. They opened the Ontario School of Agriculture, which later became the Ontario Agricultural College (OAC). This school taught students about farming and even had a special department for bees and beekeeping.

The Ontario Agricultural College and Experimental Farm, Guelph, Canada, 1889

In 1903, the Macdonald Institute was created. It taught women about home economics, like cooking and managing a home. It was named after Sir William Macdonald, who helped fund it. Later, in 1922, the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC), which trains animal doctors, moved to Guelph.

This is ad for "farm boys" from the Ontario Agricultural College in 1919 recruiting them by talking about the low cost tuition

On May 8, 1964, the government officially combined these three colleges to form the University of Guelph. The university is named after the city of Guelph. The city's name comes from an old European family name, Welf, which was connected to King George IV of the United Kingdom.

Exploring the Campuses

The University of Guelph has a main campus and other locations.

Main Campus: Where Learning Happens

The Johnston Clock Tower at the main campus

The main campus is huge, covering over 1,000 acres. This includes the beautiful University of Guelph Arboretum, which is like a big park with many trees. You can see old buildings made of local limestone, like the President's house. There are also many modern buildings from the 1960s, like the MacKinnon arts building and the McLaughlin library. The campus is full of trees and pathways made of red brick.

Campus safety is important, and the university has its own police and safety officers.

Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) Campuses

The Ontario Agricultural College used to have several campuses across Ontario. Now, it mainly operates in Guelph and at a campus in Ridgetown, Ontario. The Ridgetown campus focuses on diploma programs in areas like agriculture and veterinary technology, not full degrees.

University of Guelph-Humber: A Special Partnership

The University of Guelph-Humber is a special campus in Toronto. It was created in 2002 as a partnership between the University of Guelph and Humber College. Students there can earn both a university degree from Guelph and a college diploma from Humber at the same time.

Academic Life and Programs

The University of Guelph offers a wide range of programs for students.

Programs and Study Areas

Thornbrough Building (housing the School of Engineering)

The university has over 80 degree programs. It also offers more than 100 graduate programs for students who want to continue their studies after their first degree. You can even take courses online!

University Colleges

Science Complex atrium in 2011

The University of Guelph is made up of seven main colleges:

College of Arts
College of Biological Science
Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics
College of Engineering and Physical Sciences
College of Social & Applied Human Sciences
Ontario Agricultural College
Ontario Veterinary College

The university is especially known around the world for its amazing research in agriculture and food. They work on big projects related to global food security and sustainable development.

Joint Programs with Other Universities

Guelph also works with other universities on special graduate programs. For example, they have joint programs in chemistry, physics, and history with the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University. This means students can take courses at any of these campuses.

Campus Buildings and Facilities

The campus has a mix of old and new buildings.

War Memorial Hall, built in 1924

Some of the oldest buildings, like the President's Residence, are still used today. The War Memorial Hall, built in 1924, is a beautiful stone building that honors students who died in the World Wars. Johnston Hall, built in 1931, is a famous symbol of the university with its clock tower. It overlooks Johnston Green, a popular spot for outdoor events.

Creelman Hall, one of the many hospitality locations on campus

Rozanski Hall (built in 2003) is a modern building with large lecture halls. The Science Complex, opened in 2007, is one of the biggest science teaching and research buildings in North America. It brings together many science subjects in one place. A new building for animal health and disease research opened in 2010.

Day Hall, built in 1895

The Biodiversity Institute of Ontario is a special center where scientists rapidly identify millions of species using DNA barcoding. The School of Engineering also had a big expansion to support new programs.

The W.F. Mitchell Athletic Centre was updated and expanded in 2016. It's a huge building with a 22,000-square-foot fitness room, multiple gyms, and a rock-climbing wall.

Alexander Building (formerly Axelrod)

Student Residences: Living on Campus

Many students live right on campus in university residences. There are many different residence halls, like Johnston Hall, Lambton Hall, and the large South Residence. South Residence is one of the biggest on campus, housing 1,800 students. The East Village Townhouses offer self-contained units for older students.

The University of Guelph has one of the largest university housing systems in Canada, with 14 different living environments.

McLaughlin Library: A Hub for Learning

The six-story McLaughlin Library is a key place for students. It has over 400 computers and provides access to millions of books, magazines, films, and other learning materials. Students can also access many online resources from anywhere.

MacDonald Stewart Art Centre: Art on Campus

The MacDonald Stewart Art Centre is a public art gallery that includes the University of Guelph's art collection. It has about 4,000 works, mostly by Canadian artists, including paintings, sculptures, and textiles.

Athletics Facilities

The university's new Athletic Centre, opened in 2016, cost over $60 million. It features a large fitness center, a running track, courts for basketball and volleyball, a climbing wall, and many rooms for fitness activities. It also has a 2,200-seat events center.

The university's Research Park Centre

University Rankings and Reputation

The University of Guelph is highly respected in Canada and around the world.

University rankings
Global rankings
ARWU World	501–600
QS World	486
Times World	401–500
U.S News & World Report Global	497
Canadian rankings
ARWU National	19–22
QS National	19
Times National	19–20
U.S News & World Report National	19
Maclean's Comprehensive	4
Maclean's Reputation	12

In 2018, it was ranked 16th among the top 50 research universities in Canada. The Ontario Veterinary College at Guelph was ranked number 1 in Canada and number 5 in the world in 2020!

The Globe and Mail newspaper ranked Guelph in the top 3 in many categories for medium-sized universities. This included top spots for things like course registration, student housing, and campus atmosphere.

Forbes magazine also listed the University of Guelph as one of Canada's Best Employers in 2019. They noted that Guelph is known for its strong academics and hands-on learning.

Working with Industries

The University of Guelph works with many different organizations and companies.

Canadian Space Agency: The university helps the CSA with research for space instruments, like those used on Mars rovers.
OMAFRA Partnership: The university has a strong partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. This brings many research experts to the university.

Student Life and Activities

*Student Body Demographics (2014–15)*
	Undergraduate	Graduate
Male	40.1%	43.3%
Female	59.9%	56.7%
Canadian student	97%	85.4%
International student	3%	14.6%

Students at the University of Guelph have many ways to get involved. There are many student groups and clubs for different interests. These groups are managed by student organizations like the Central Student Association (CSA) and various college student councils.

The Residence Student Government, called Interhall Council, helps organize activities in each residence hall. They work to make campus life fun and connect students with university services.

How the University is Run

The University of Guelph is managed by two main groups: the Senate and the Board of Governors. The Senate handles academic things like courses and programs. The Board of Governors takes care of the university's business, like money and buildings.

Athletics: The Guelph Gryphons

The university's sports teams are called the Guelph Gryphons. Their colors are red, black, and yellow. The mascot is a Gryphon named Gryph! The university offers 15 varsity sports for men and 15 for women. Many students at Guelph participate in sports or fitness programs.

The Gryphons compete in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS). They play sports like basketball, soccer, hockey, and rugby. The men's football team won a national championship in 1984. The cross-country running teams are especially strong, winning many titles.

Campus Traditions

Painting Old Jeremiah

Old Jeremiah is the name of an old British naval gun located in the middle of campus. It's often called The Cannon. Students believe it was used in the War of 1812. After World War I, students brought it to campus to remember those who died in battle.

In the past, students from different programs would play jokes by moving the cannon around campus. Eventually, the university cemented it in place. But students still managed to aim it at the university's main administration building as a joke!

Old Jeremiah - painted by the European Studies students at the University of Guelph

Painting the cannon is a big campus tradition. Students, residence halls, and clubs paint messages on it, usually about upcoming events, birthdays, or even marriage proposals! There are unofficial rules:

Start painting after sunset.
Finish before classes start in the morning.
Don't use bad language.
It's common to "guard" the cannon all night to make sure no one paints over your message!

In 2010, an art student cleaned off all the layers of paint as an art project. Students were a bit sad to see the history removed, but the tradition of painting Old Jeremiah quickly started again.

The Pep Rally

During the university's orientation program for new students, there's a big event called the Pep Rally. All new students learn a special dance, often called the "Hall Boogie." They perform it to popular songs, and awards are given for the best spirit and coordination. It's a very energetic and loud event!

A team of Aggies during tug-of-war at College Royal in 2010

In 2012, when the football field was being renovated, a "Rally for Change" was held instead. Students performed in the community to raise money for cancer research. This event has also become a tradition.

College Royal

Every March, the university holds an open house called College Royal. It's a weekend where every part of the campus is open to the public. You can visit the farm barns, see the sugar bush, and learn about all the different programs. It's very popular with families and children, especially during the March school break.

In 2006, the famous Canadian TV host Rick Mercer visited College Royal and filmed a segment for his show, the Rick Mercer Report.

Student Media

Students at the University of Guelph have their own newspapers, magazines, and online platforms.

The Ontarion – The main student newspaper, published every Thursday.
The Peak
Hornblower: The HTM Magazine – For students in Hospitality and Tourism Management.
At Guelph – The university's official newspaper.
The Portico – A magazine sent to alumni.
Osnap – A monthly humor publication by engineering students.

Online Resources

The Cannon is an online website for students. It's a place where students can submit news, event announcements, and opinions. It also has a "Rate-a-Prof" section where students can share thoughts about professors, and a free classifieds section for buying and selling textbooks. The website is named after the famous Old Jeremiah cannon.

Radio Station

CFRU-FM is the university's community radio station. It serves both students and the wider Guelph community.

University of Guelph facts for kids

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